SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
PRODUCT GUIDE
AMERICAN MADE. AMERICAN IMPACT.
PRESENTED BY
ABOUT REDF Since 1997, REDF has led the pioneering effort to create jobs and employment opportunities for people facing the greatest barriers to work in California—like people who’ve been in prison or homeless, young people who’ve dropped out of school, and those who live with mental health disabilities. REDF believes the opportunity to work should be available to everyone, everywhere. We know the power jobs can have in transforming lives and communities. REDF provides funding and expertise to social enterprises: mission-driven businesses focused on hiring and assisting people who are willing and able to work, but have the hardest time getting jobs. By earning and reinvesting revenues, social enterprises are able to provide more people with jobs that build skills, enabling them to realize their full potential. Because of this work, thousand of Californians got jobs, and the 50 social enterprises REDF has supported earned more than $140 million in revenue. Now REDF is taking best practices learned from almost two decades of measuring our impact to grow social enterprise nationally and put thousands more people to work.
Click on the images below to watch videos about how a job can transform a life. See How Jobs Can Change Lives
See How A Job Can Create A Brighter Future
Juan’s Story
Patrick’s Story
Visit our website to learn more: www.redf.org
DEAR FRIENDS, For the first time ever, REDF has created a product guide that offers you a simple and meaningful way to shop in style while also changing people’s lives! If you are looking for products that are American Made and have American Impact, this is the place to find them. With each purchase of these products, you create a ripple effect. The businesses that make the products earn revenue in order to employ people who are eager to work, but would otherwise face almost insurmountable obstacles to getting a job. When these men and women go to work, their lives improve alongside the lives of their families and communities. You can ‘Create Opportunity’ by buying from an enterprise that gives a second chance to people who have been homeless or in prison, such as Homeboy Industries and the Homeless Gardening Project. You can ‘Empower Women’ by buying from employers that offer opportunity and community to women, such as Women’s Bean Project in Denver and Thistle Farms in Nashville. And you can ‘Build Abilities’ by sourcing from companies that employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Casey’s Cookies and Creativity Explored. Enjoy shopping! If you know of an enterprise selling products that we did not include, please let us know at GiftGuide@redf.org. Onward, Carla Javits REDF President and CEO @cjavitsredf
BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE… Creating Opportunity ~ Page 3 Empowering Women ~ Page 6 Building Abilities ~ Page 10
BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITY
All items available to ship nationwide at www.greyston.com.
Greyston Bakery doesn’t hire people to bake brownies—they bake brownies to hire people. Buy delicious Greyston Bakery brownies like Chocolate Fudge, Brown Sugar Blondie, and Toasted Coconut. Purchase customized boxes in quantities of 2, 8, or 12 brownies and share the love baked into each of these sweet treats.
Beelove is a social enterprise with a triple bottom line mission. Social: Provide people facing significant barriers to employment—primarily those with histories of criminal convictions—with viable opportunities to establish a work history, learn productive work habits, and become productive members of society. Economic: Contribute to the economic revitalization of the North Lawndale neighborhood through a social enterprise that is sustainable for the long term and generates jobs. Product: Produce and sell high quality honey and honey-based personal care and relaxation products.
Since 1982, Greyston, the country’s leading social enterprise, has provided individuals in Southwest Yonkers, NY with employment, skills, and resources to lift them out of poverty. Greyston’s unique combination of Open Hiring at the world famous Greyston Bakery and PathMaking services offers a roadmap to assist individuals and families in visualizing and realizing their paths to self-sufficiency.
All items available to ship nationwide at www.sweetbeginningsllc.com.
Beelove extracts honey from their urban apiary in the heart of the North Lawndale community in Chicago. They use their delicious, complex, raw honey to create high quality skin care products such as lip balm, lotion, scrubs, and body wash. These products create opportunity, are good for the body, and help urban bees thrive.
REDF PRODUCT GUIDE 2015 – 03
BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITY
All items available to ship nationwide at www.villagecookieshoppe.com.
The award winning Village Cookie Shoppe offers delicious cookie flavors such as Chocolate Chip, Cranberry White Chocolate, and Oatmeal Raisin as well as Dark Chocolate Brownies. Cookies are shipped the same day they are baked and use only natural ingredients without preservatives. Makes a great gift for friends, family, and clients.
Homeboy Industries provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of the community. For over 25 years, Homeboy Industries has been transforming the lives of formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated individuals by imagining an inclusive circle of compassion, kinship, and mutuality where there is no “us and them,” just “us.”
The Village Cookie Shoppe is a pretty extraordinary place. We’re owned and operated by Mental Health America of Los Angeles. MHA uses the Village Cookie Shoppe revenue to help homeless adults and young people with disabilities get an education, a job, and a place to call home. We guess you could say we’re not your cookie cutter kind of shop.
All items available to ship nationwide at www.homeboyfoods.com and www.homeboyindustries.org/shop-homeboy. Homeboy Industries was the vanguard of the social enterprise movement. Their numerous social enterprises offer diverse branded products such as apparel, stylish bags, and useful office and home goods. Homeboy Foods offers delicious pastries, cakes, cookies, granola, and holiday gift packages. Or give “Tattoos on the Heart” by founder Father Greg Boyle, a collection of stories from Homeboy that will bring tears of sorrow and joy.
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BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITY
All items available to ship nationwide at www.homelessgardenproject.org.
Homeless Garden Project grows and makes their products with care on their certified organic farm. Their Lavender Gift Box includes a lavender sachet, bath salts, a soy candle, perfume, and lavender mint lip balm. Or enjoy their Sample box with hand-dipped beeswax candles decorated with dried flowers, lavender shortbread mix, and garden herb salt. Producing these items gives their employees valuable work experience and a sanctuary within the healing environment of an organic farm.
Boston HandyWorks is a social enterprise of Pine Street Inn, a Boston nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness. At HandyWorks, we provide on-the-job training and transitional employment opportunities to individuals who have experienced homelessness and been estranged from the workforce. Trainees in our program engage in meaningful work as they move toward their goals of economic selfsufficiency.
The Homeless Garden Project provides job training, transitional employment, and support services to people who are homeless. HGP’s vibrant education and volunteer program for the broad community blends formal, experiential, and service learning. The programs take place on our three-acre organic farm and related enterprises.
All items available to ship nationwide at www.bostonhandyworks.com.
The woodworking experience is similar to the evolution of the clients at Boston HandyWorks. While they transform pieces of raw wood into beautiful, unique, top quality cutting boards, they have the opportunity to acquire the skills and confidence to go from unemployed and homeless to employed graduates by the end of the program. The cutting boards are strong and durable in various sizes made of North American Maple and Cherry wood. All cutting boards are handcrafted in Boston with 100% of proceeds from sales supporting job training. REDF PRODUCT GUIDE 2015 – 05
BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE EMPOWERING WOMEN
All items available to ship nationwide at www.shop.brightendeavors.org.
Let Bright Endeavors light up your home with an amazing array of candles, bath products, and gift sets. All products are made with the highest quality soy waxes, fair trade soaking salts, phthalatefree fragrances, and other environmentally friendly ingredients. Materials are USA-made, recyclable, and eco-friendly, and employees are trained on green production practices. The women gain valuable work skills that empower them to economic independence.
Bright Endeavors is a social enterprise that provides lowincome 18- to 24-year-old mothers in Chicago with coaching, guidance, and on-thejob training. These women gain valuable professional skills while producing premium soy candles and bath products. Bright Endeavors is more than a business and it is a pathway out of poverty.
Since 2007, Bright Endeavors has provided hundreds of young women with essential work and life skills. Participants are encouraged to develop new recipes for candles and bath products, and often their products are placed on the market.
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BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE EMPOWERING WOMEN
All items available to ship nationwide at www.womensbeanproject.com.
Women’s Bean Project makes handcrafted, limited edition jewelry and gourmet food items. The colorful and charming jewelry is made by hand in Denver. The diverse food offerings include bean soup, chili, cookies, brownies, corn bread, dips, mixes, and salsas and includes a large selection of gluten free items. The production of these items empowers clients with skills that allow women to move on to careers that support them and their families.
Women’s Bean Project changes women’s lives by providing stepping stones to selfsufficiency through social enterprise. Women’s Bean Project strives to break the cycle of chronic unemployment and poverty by helping women discover their talents and develop skills by offering job readiness training opportunities. With this stepping stone toward success, the women will be able to support themselves and their families and create stronger role models for future generations.
“Tamra Ryan and Women’s Bean Project are front and center in the fight against poverty and chronic unemployment. These are topics we should all be discussing and social problems we should be trying to solve.” ~John Hickenlooper, Governor of the State of Colorado
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BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE EMPOWERING WOMEN
To learn more about our products, visit www.thistlefarms.org.
Thistle Farms creates natural bath and body products that are as good for the earth as they are for the body. Pamper yourself and your senses with fragrant lotions, bath salts, candles, room sprays, and body balms. Making these products helps women learn skills in manufacturing, packaging, marketing and sales, and administration.
Thistle Farms is a social enterprise of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking, poverty, and addiction. The women earn income from making all natural bath and body products. Your purchase helps sustain the well being of residents and graduates of our two-year residential program MAGDALENE as well as many individuals and communities throughout the world. Thistle Farms stands as witness that love is the most powerful force for change in the world.
Buying Thistle Farms products is an act of love. The products are made with the finest ingredients by artisans who nourish and heal their bodies and souls through their work.
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BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE EMPOWERING WOMEN
To learn more about MADE by DWC, visit www.MADEbyDWC.org.
handMADE is MADE by DWC’s line of unique products created locally by homeless and low-income women at the Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles’ Skid Row community. MADE by DWC’s one of a kind gifts such as soap, candles, and journals are handmade using recycled and repurposed materials and with a commitment to connecting social profit to environmental sustainability.
Rebel Nell creates defiant jewelry with a purpose. Our mission is to employ disadvantaged women in Detroit and educate them on financial management, life wellness, and business to empower them to successfully transition to an independent life.
MADE by DWC is a social enterprise created by the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) that breaks the cycles of chronic unemployment and homelessness by empowering women to discover talents and develop skills through vocational opportunities. Its products generate economic and social capital to support programs at DWC.
All items available to ship nationwide at www.rebelnell.com.
Rebel Nell turns scrap pieces of layered graffiti into beautiful works of wearable art such as necklaces, rings, and cufflinks. The graffiti, just like Detroit, might look a little rough on the surface, but is made up of beautiful layers—just like the layers of people, ideas, and history that make up the city.
REDF PRODUCT GUIDE 2015 – 09
BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE BUILDING ABILITIES
Creativity Explored advances the value and diversity of artistic expression. We provide artists with developmental disabilities the means to create, exhibit, and sell their art in our studios, in our gallery, and around the world
All items available to ship nationwide at www.creativityexplored.org.
Creativity Explored offers unique items from notebooks and apparel to orginal art pieces. Their purchase supports programs that provide people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to express themselves through the creation of art. A key focus of Creativity Explored’s services is to support those individuals with developmental disabilities who wish to become self-employed artists in creating and operating fully viable and profitable businesses.
Over the past 32 years, Creativity Explored’s innovative and respected programs, structure, and culture have been recognized as a model in the field of art and disability worldwide.
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BUY PRODUCTS THAT ARE BUILDING ABILITIES
All items available to ship nationwide at www.heavendropt.org.
HEAVENDROPt offers products such as pet bandanas, tri-braid bracelets, necklaces, and eyeglass holders made with strong, authentic, recycled military parachute material. These durable items make a great gift and show your support for the HEAVENDROPt cause.
Casey’s Cookies promotes independence and improves the quality of life for developmentally and physically disabled adults through training and employment. We aim to develop a residential community in the Tampa Bay area where Casey’s Cookies employees can live and work in a safe and nurturing environment.
HEAVENDROPt is a social enterprise that focuses on a triple bottom line. People: Provides competitive wage jobs for people with developmental/intellectual disabilities and veterans with disabilities. Planet: Obtains and recycles used military parachutes and turns them into unique products. Profit: The sale of Heavendropt products gives back to individuals with developmental/ intellectual disabilities and veterans with disabilities.
All items available to ship nationwide at www.caseyscookies.org.
Why not give delicious gourmet cookies as a gift this year? Casey’s Cookies offers a variety of flavors such as Blueberry and White Chocolate, Vermont Maple, Quadruple Chocolate, Cinnamon Chip, and Cake Batter. The cookies are great by themselves, but the holiday themed gift boxes and wicker gift baskets are perfect for the holidays.
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PORTFOLIO Below are the organizations in REDF’s portfolio that operate social enterprises focused on hiring and assisting people who face barriers to work. These organizations offer a variety of high quality services and retail stores. Visit their websites to learn more. Center for Employment Opportunities
Community Resource Center
EMPLOYEES: Formerly incarcerated individuals
EMPLOYEES: Formerly incarcerated individuals, the homeless, and people with a history of substance abuse
BUSINESS: General maintenance work crews LOCATIONS: Oakland, San Diego, and San Bernardino, CA (Headquarters: New York, NY)
BUSINESS: Back to Work thrift store LOCATION: Encinitas, CA www.crcncc.org
www.ceoworks.org
Chrysalis
Goodwill of Silicon Valley
EMPLOYEES: Homeless and low-income individuals
EMPLOYEES: Formerly incarcerated, homeless, and people with a history of substance abuse
BUSINESSES: Chrysalis Enterprises – street maintenance, facilities, and staffing services
BUSINESSES: Assembly and packaging, landscaping, and mattress recycling
LOCATIONS: Los Angeles, Pacoima, and Santa Monica, CA
LOCATION: San Jose, CA www.goodwillsv.org
www.changelives.org
Taller San Jose
Coalition for Responsible Community Development
EMPLOYEES: Low-income and formerly incarcerated young adults ages 18-28
EMPLOYEES: Low-income youth and young adults
BUSINESS: Hope Builders – full-service contractor
BUSINESS: CRCD Enterprises – Facilities management & property maintenance
LOCATION: Santa Ana, CA
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA www.coalitionrcd.org
Community Housing Partnership
www.tallersanjose.org
Weingart Center for the Homeless EMPLOYEES: Homeless men and women
EMPLOYEES: Homeless individuals
BUSINESS: 360 Degree Solutions – full-service pest management
BUSINESS: Solutions SF – Lobby staffing services
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
LOCATION: San Francisco, CA
www.weingart.org
www.chp-sf.org
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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
PRODUCT GUIDE PRESENTED BY
www.redf.org